Q: I am in my second season with eight Encore azaleas. They did well last year but only recently bloomed very well. I am not well versed in the care of these and am seeking info as to the pruning ...

When considering how to prune azaleas, take into account that such pruning isn’t actually a necessity unless your bushes have outgrown their allotted space. You can prevent that by planting azaleas ...

Q: Even though I have had a frost, my Encore azaleas still have blooms on them. When do I prune them? I know you say to prune after flowering, but they aren't done yet. A : Encore azaleas bloom at ...

Q. I have several Encore azaleas that bloom nicely but don’t have many leaves. What is the best practice to get them full and encourage the leaves’ growth? What is the best composition of fertilizer ...

A: Sunshine is very important, and lots of it! They really don’t need pruning. Improperly timed pruning can actually remove buds that plan to bloom that following season. That being said, only prune ...

Q. I have about 20 Encore azaleas. Most have just stopped blooming. Should they be fertilized now? Should they be fertilized after they bloom each time? A. The good thing about the Encore series is ...

A: Encore azaleas flower on new wood rather than on old, as most traditional azaleas do. Encores produce a heavy spring flush of blooms, then grow. Another flowering cycle begins in mid- to late ...

Q: My neighbor has a beautiful pink crape myrtle. She has given me permission to take cuttings; yet, nothing so far has been successful. How do you propagate crape myrtles? A: You can root cuttings of ...

A: The hesitation in your gut was right! Nope. No pruning and no fertilizing these plants this time of year, and here’s why. Both pruning and fertilizing signal a plant to put on new growth. This late ...